The United Kingdom’s largest robotic-assisted surgery training centre has opened in Winnersh, near Reading. This state-of-the-art facility serves to elevate the skills of surgeons from around the globe. Most importantly, it provides them with mission-critical expertise in robotic surgical techniques.
The center exclusively trains on the da Vinci surgical system. This system is highly regarded worldwide as the most technologically advanced surgical system to perform minimally invasive procedures. Surgeons from around the world, particularly across Europe, are flocking to the facility. They’ve been going to training sessions to improve their skills using robotic surgery. Perhaps most interesting is that the centre acts as a training site for metabolic surgery itself, widening its educational offerings even further.
In June this year, NHS England made a momentous announcement that should herald the beginning of a systematic upheaval of surgical practice throughout the nation. We tweeted our proposal to bring RPA’s robotic assistance to small incisions and keyhole surgeries. By 2035, they want to do this for nine out of ten procedures. This transition highlights the increasing role that robotic systems are playing in the surgical landscape today.
Today, more than 200 da Vinci surgical systems are in use at hospitals across the UK and Ireland. These innovative machines have been used to perform less invasive surgeries on more than 300,000 patients. Their palpable effectiveness aside, the use of robotic technology in healthcare is becoming more prevalent.
The Winnersh training centre has already hosted international participants, including an entire group of surgeons from Montpellier, France. Surgeon Consultant Gijs van Boxel, who is linked with Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth, emphasized the importance of these trainings.
“Today, we’ve been training on metabolic surgery. We’ve got French surgeons visiting from Montpellier. We’ve got people coming from all over Europe to Reading, to Winnersh triangle, to help them gain proficiency in robotic surgery. So that’s a super exciting development and something to be proud of.” – Gijs van Boxel
Van Boxel demystified the process of robotic-assisted surgery. As he pointed out, in contrast to its title, the operation is nevertheless very much governed by the technically proficient hands of expert surgeons.
“It is referred to as robotic-assisted surgery but it is very much controlled by an experienced, qualified surgeon who manipulates the instruments using a different part of the machine to allow us to do the surgery.” – Gijs van Boxel
As a result of the increased accuracy afforded by the da Vinci system, Van Boxel says patient outcomes have benefitted.
“It feels futuristic but the concept of robotic-assisted surgery is not a new one, the development that’s gone into this over the various iterations has been extensive, lots of lessons have been learnt.” – Gijs van Boxel
According to Van Boxel, the enhanced precision provided by the da Vinci system has led to improved patient outcomes.
“The precision permitted through this system has allowed better outcomes for our patience which is ultimately why we do this.” – Gijs van Boxel